Electric flatiron



Oct. 12 1926. 1,603,208

w.. H. KEITER ELECTRI C FLATIRON Original Filed Oct. 25, 1922 PatentedOct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,603,208 PAKTENT OFFICE.

WIILIAM H. KEITEB, OF'TOLEDO, OHIO.

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Application filed October 25, 1922, Serial No. 596,917. Renewed February6, 1926.

This invention relates to features of con-- trol for apparatus to beheated.

This invention has utility when incorporated in electrically heated flatirons for operation in automatically cutting in and cutting out theheating.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts brokenaway, of an embodiment of the invention 1 in an electric flat iron fordomestic use;

Fig. 2 is an end-elevation, with parts broken away, of the iron of Fig.1 from the right; 3

Fi 3-is a detail view showing features 15 of t e thermostat and switchcontrolled ,thereby, and s Fig. 4 is a view showing the iron set on endfor remaining heated during short interVals between uses.

2 Housing 1 of the flat iron is shown as havingtherein an electricheating element 2..

Fromthis housing 1 rises upright 3 for main grip or handle portion 4.Electric supply lines 5 extend to the socket 6 having 25 slip connectionwith the housing 1 of the One of the supply lines 5 is here shown asextending to terminal 7 (Fig. 3) from which extends-electric conductorspring arm 8 having contact 9. This spring 8' normally tends to swingthe, contact 9 away from contact 10. The contact 10 is connected tofixed terminal 11 of the lead line tothe heating element 2. Thesecontacts 9, 10, are held in engagement by lug 12 on thearm 8 havingsliding coaction with arm 13. This thermostat arm 13 has bearing or lug14 which may ride along slide way 15, pause at ridge portion 16 to snapover to depressed'portion 17 of cam guide 18, which may be adjusted byset screw 19 for shifting in thermostat housing 20. This shifting of thecam 18 changes the working range of the arm 13 at which the switchcontacts open and close.

This housing 20 encloses a thermostat which reciprocates the arm 13.This thermostat comprises a cast iron strip 21 disposed in opposingrelation to a cast aluminum strip 22, held together by rivets 23, andanchored to the thermostat housing 20 by rivets 24. These two strips 21,22, on their adjacent faces have grooves 25 to permit circulation of airand thereby make themmore readily responsive to temperature change. Asthe temperature builds up, the

the'flat iron by gripping of the handle sec- .the cam 15, 16, 17. Inadjusting the posi tion of the cam by means of the screw 19. 50

the temperature at which the contacts 9 and 10 may be opened or closedis changed and the heating control of the iron is thus sim plycontrolled as to range for use.

This thermostat housing 20, is mounted by pivot pins 26 against thesocket 6 of the flat iron. Forming a bell crank lever with'thisthermostat housing 26 is arm 27 having pivotal connection with handlesection 28 provided with fulcrum 29 fixed with the main handle 4: of theflat iron. This handlesection 28 is normally forced away from the mainhandle section 4 by the compression helical spring 30 coacting betweenthe handle sections.

This feature means that the spring 30 in its action in swinging thethermostat housing 20 into position close to the flat iron housing 1thereby makes the thermostat more quickly responsive to the heating ofthis fiat iron and automatically cuts out the heating at a lower rangeof temperature for the housing 1 than when the thermostat is spacedtherefrom. When the operator uses tion 28 to compress the spring 30, thethermostat housing 20 swings away from the housing 1 of the flat iron,thereby requiring a higher temperature for opening the switch in thethermostat. This means that in operation the fiat iron automaticallywill run under higher temperature than when the currentis' on and thehandle not gripped with the iron left fiat. This is a safety deviceagainst iniury to cloth or ironing board and is automatic. 7

When the user of the flat iron -wishes to set the iron down so thatadjustments of the garment being ironed may be had such setting down ofthe iron may be upon heel portion 31. As so set up extension 32 fixedwith the arm 27, will hold the thermostat housing 20 into position awayfrom the iron housing 1, thereby resulting in keeping the highertemperature of the iron automatically. The operator thus has a hot ironmaintained for use.

The feature of automatically cutting out the heating supply occurs atboth positions of the thermostat. The embodiment herein of shifting thethermostat for the two temperatures has as its purpose the variation inthe eifective radiation to the thermostat by changing the distanceinstead of interposing a nonconductor screen. The thermostat away fromthe housing may act at lower temperature and thus be of prolonged life.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Aflat iron embodying a heater, a housing therefor, means providing asupply of heat for the heater, control means for the supply, athermostat for controlling said control'means and disposed to beaffected by the heating of the housing, and means for varying theinfluence of the housing on said thermostat by shifting one relativelyto the other independently of adjusting the thermostat in itself.

2. A. flat iron embodying a heating element, a housing therefor, anelectric supply, a switch for controlling the supply, a thermostat foroperating said switch as disposed to be affected by the; heating of thehousing and means for shifting the thermostat .as to the housingindependently of adjusting the thermostat in itself.

3. A flat iron embodying an electric heating element, a housingtherefor, an electric supply, a switch for controlling the supply, athermostat for operating said switch, and a handle for the iron having amovable section for affecting the operation-of the switch by saidthermostat.

a. An electric flat iron having a housing, a thermostat for the ironhaving an independent thermostat enveloping housing spaced from the ironhousing, and a handle for the iron provided with connections for yaryingthe action of the thermostat as to the iron.

5. An electric flat iron, a handle therefor, a thermostat for the ironmounted by the handle and spaced from and out of contact with the iron,said handle for the iron being movable relatively to the iron, and aconnection operable by said movement of the handle for affecting thethermostat.

6. An electric fiat iron, a rockable thermostat therefor, and a handlefor the iron, movable for rocking the thermostat.

7. An electric flat iron having a handle, an automatic low temperaturecontrol efi'ective upon release of the handle, and means coactii'u oniron set up On end, to hold the iron in high temperature position.

8. An electric flat iron, a thermostat therefor, a handle for the iron,means coacting upon release of the handle for moving the thermostat inlow temperature controlled position for the flat iron.

9. An electrical flat iron, provided with a relatively movable handlesection, and a spring normally drawing the thermostat toward the ironfor holding the heating of the iron to a lower temperature.

10. An electric flat iron provided with a heating element, a housingtherefor, a rela tively shiftable thermostat for the heating element, aswitch for the heating element,

and a handle for the iron including a section shiftable as to the ironhousing for varying the action between the switch and the thermostat byshifting the thermostat as to the housing.

11. A tool, an electric heater for the tool, a housing i'ully envelopingthe heater, a thermostat for controlling the heating of the tool andmounted exterior of the housing and out of contact with the housing, andmeans coacting with tool operation to control the thermostat action asto the heating cf the tool. i

In witness whereof I aflix my signature. WILLIAM H. KEITER.

